Ai-Giannis beach, Astypalaia, Dodecanese,South Aegean
Castle of Agios Ioannis
| Location: |
| On a rock at the western coast of Astypalaia island |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| South Aegean Dodecanese | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Astypalaia • Ai-Giannis beach | |
| Altitude: | |
| Elevation ≈ 235 m |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| Unknown | BYZANTINE  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Natural Fort |
In Ruins
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Remains of a castle on an impressive rock of the southwestern coast of Astypalaia, west of the chapel of Agios Ioannis which gives its name to the area, the beach and the castle.
Nothing is known about the history of the castle. Apparently it was built before the arrival of the Venetians, i.e. before the 13th century.
Therefore the castle could be categorized as “Byzantine”, but otherwise the time of its construction is unknown. It could have been built sometime between the 7th and the 12th century but a construction date long before the 7th century (when piracy started) is not unlikely.
Most probably the castle was used as a refuge by the population of the island. There are no traces of a settlement and the quality of construction is low. However, it is not easy to explain why there was a fortification at this point, so far from Chora which was the only settlement on the island in the Middle Ages.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | October 2017 | Last addition of photo/video: | September 2023 |
Sources
- Pictures from Flickr, user Eva D. Chatzaki
- Pictures from Panoramio, user Γρηγόρης-Λάζος
- Website Αστυπάλαια, Astypalaia-island - Το Κάστρο του Αγ. Ιωάννη
- Ελευθέριος Φιλήμων Ξανθός, «Αστυπάλαια: Ιστορία και Ιστορίες», Χορηγός Δήμος Αστυπάλαιας, Αθήνα 2009
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| From Chora, by car up to the chapel of Ai-Giannis. From there the castle is in hlf-hour walking distance. |
| Entrance: |
| Free access |
| Other castles around |
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| Castle of Astypalaia |